CRNA School?

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I am currently a nursing student, graduating this year with my BSN. My current GPA is subpar, at just above a 3.2. As test taking is not my specialty, I excel in clinical practice. Upon graduation I intend to retake science class to help my GPA, and I intend to involve myself in hospital committees and leadership roles. Is there anything else I can do to help my chances into a CRNA school? I know this is the career path for me, and I really do not want GPA to be the reason I do not get an opportunity to prove it.

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i have no real experience in this issue at hand, I'm currently applying to nursing programs now. However, I have done my research about CRNA program time after time. In general I heard from people in the program that they are extremely competitive at least 3.6 and above...but your years of experience in departments such as ICU, NEUROSURGERY, TRAUMa plays a dominant role, strong recommendations help. I found a video on youtube where there lady apply to a CRNA program three times and finally she got in.. basically if it something that you really want just keep pushing for it!!

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Specializes in ICU / Urgent Care.

Golden standard for applying to graduate school is 3.5

anything below and you'll have to shine really bright in other areas to make up for it.

retaking classes that you got a C or worse in is a good start

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Specializes in Critical Care.

As the previous poster stated - make up for your lower GPA with good ICU experience. I don't mean the bare minimum ICU experience required, but actually becoming a competent ICU nurse before applying. That may take a few years. What is drawing you to anesthesia? If your grades aren't great from nursing school, beware that anesthesia school is much more difficult.

Always keep the goal ahead of you, but don't forget the steps in between. Finish up school strong. Pass your boards. Land a job in a high acuity ICU. Get CCRN certified. Put in the time to be a skilled nurse. Shadow CRNAs and make sure you're financially and academically ready for school. There are no shortcuts to success. Work hard and you'll make it. Good luck!

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One of the many many reasons stem from an experience I had back when I was 15 years old. I was getting my first major surgery and I was petrified. I laid in the pre-op room sweating, just so unsure of what was about to happen. My CRNA came in and I remember him holding my hand and cracking jokes just trying to get my mind off of it. He unsured me he would never leave my side during the surgery, and it made me feel so comfortable knowing I would have some one there that made me feel safe. Best part is that this was not a children's hospital, it was focused more in adult care. After the surgery, I had to stay for 3 days on a unit. The same CRNA came to see me every single day. I know he did not have to do that, but he went out of his way for me. He made that impact on me and I want to make that impact on someone else when they go into surgery.

I am trying to begin, as a BSN student, on a research project with a professor. And with the help of a doctor I have become very close with over the past year, begin an ICU job when I finish school in May. I will take some extra classes when I am working to bring up my science GPA and intend to get CCRN certified once my criteria is met. I hope that even though they see my GPA during nursing school may only end up as 3.4-3.5, I am making up for it with more classes and pushing myself in extra classes and other areas.

Thank you for the post!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I think it's great that you have been befriended by a physician, but you are mistaken if you believe that s/he can help you get a nursing job. Physicians only hire their own office nurses - hospital staff nurses are hired by nurse managers. In fact, attempting to circumvent standard hiring processes by name-dropping or using external influence to obtain a job is a mistake that could tarnish your career before it even begins. This will most likely cause you to be characterized as "entitled" & that's a really bad thing in today's new grad job market.

CRNA school is very challenging - even for nurses who are academically talented. It may be a good idea to have a Plan B goal in mind.

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Specializes in GENERAL.
As the previous poster stated - make up for your lower GPA with good ICU experience. I don't mean the bare minimum ICU experience required, but actually becoming a competent ICU nurse before applying. That may take a few years. What is drawing you to anesthesia? If your grades aren't great from nursing school, beware that anesthesia school is much more difficult.

Always keep the goal ahead of you, but don't forget the steps in between. Finish up school strong. Pass your boards. Land a job in a high acuity ICU. Get CCRN certified. Put in the time to be a skilled nurse. Shadow CRNAs and make sure you're financially and academically ready for school. There are no shortcuts to success. Work hard and you'll make it. Good luck!

I usually don't tell people directly what they need to do feeling it is better to lay the facts as I know them on the table allowing the person contemplating this or that to make the final decision based on careful research and their own unique set of circumstances.

With this said though, the above poster's comments and advice seem to be the gospel truth and appear to be exempt from any kind of first person bias.

I personally would therefore take to heart these words as I have found that when wisdom calls it's often loud and clear if you take the time to listen

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